6 ways I'm making the most of the library

From using multiple libraries to paying fines with a smile, these ideas will help you take advantage of an incredible resource.

These days, I spend a lot of time in the library - multiple libraries, actually. Utilizing a resource that supports local communities and promotes literacy - while also reducing my own consumption and spending - is a great way to express some of my most deeply-held values.

And really, have you ever stopped to think about just how amazing libraries are? First of all, they offer rows and rows of free-to-borrow books - for me, just looking at the shelves in a library can seriously spark a feeling of abundance - and they’re also crucial community hubs, providers of important services, and just fun places to hang out.

Photo by Trnava University on Unsplash

I’ve gone through periods of my life when I’ve meandered away from the library for a while, sometimes embarrassed by months-old fines, sometimes in a busy season of life where it felt too time-consuming.

But in this particularly library-centric stage of my life, I’ve learned to lean into some practices to make my use of them more fun and fruitful. In honor of National Library Week, I’m sharing some of them here:

1) I frequent multiple libraries in my region.

There are three public libraries within a short drive of my home, and I use them all. My library card was issued by my village library, which has reciprocal agreements with the other public libraries in my area, so I’ve set up accounts at two other libraries. They just stick a little barcode on the back of my main card, so now one card allows me to access services from three different libraries!

As libraries do, each branch has a different vibe - and for me, a slightly different purpose. One library is in the cute small town nearby where I like to go on long walks in the beachside neighborhood, then stroll over to do an hour or two of work or check out a book.

The library in my village is bigger, with new, convenient workstations and a little coffee bar; it has the vibe of a modern co-working space.

And the library in the bigger city where Clara goes to school was my neighborhood library for years when the kids were little, so I get serious nostalgia for those storytime and picture-book days each time I step through the doors.

Each library has its advantages when it comes to book selection (the above photo is a haul from one library that has a particularly good history section!) and by spending time in each one I’m learning to play on its strengths. ¹

But sometimes, despite my best organization efforts, juggling books from multiple libraries does mean I miss a deadline. So…

2) I cheerfully pay my fines.

Library fines used to feel like some kind of personal failing (and it also used to lead to me avoiding the library from some weird, misplaced sense of shame, which is totally counterproductive!)

At some point I realized that if I was going to regularly make use of multiple libraries and still be myself (reasonably organized, but also living a full life and not always great at remembering to renew), paying some fines was pretty much inevitable.

It was time for a reframe.

These days, I (very) often owe a few dollars to a library - and not infrequently, amount is $5-$10 or more - and I just don’t sweat it. I consider fines to be a sort of daily rent on a book I was enjoying a lot and forgot to renew, or a (small!) convenience fee that allows me to fit returns into my regular schedule rather than making a special trip.

I’ve never once had a librarian shame me for having library fines. Often you can pay them online if you’re embarrassed, and some libraries even have regular “amnesty” events when they either forgive all your fines, or charity drives where they’ll waive them in return for a donation of clothing or food.

I’ve taken advantage of all of these opportunities when they present themselves, but most of the time, I just pay the fine. It helps support the library, after all, and it’s still an incredibly small amount to pay for all the value I get out of the library.

Walk into the library, head high, and pay your fines with a smile on your face. Nobody is judging you, and your “donation” is helping to support an essential institution.²

3) When I’m looking for a specific ebook, I check Libby first.

For years, checking out ebooks from my library felt like some unsolvable mystery. When I finally got around to downloading the Libby app, I realized how much free reading I missed out on. It’s so, so easy, and a great way to utilize your local library even if you rarely darken its doors. Try it next time!

4) I take advantage of their other programs.

Libraries supply so much more than books, and sometimes you’ll find unexpected delights when you start browsing their services. For example, my local library offers a seed library and passport services; one village over the library has a community garden and maker space. I can access private meeting space, go to a book club, play D&D with my friends (well, I don’t actually play D&D, but there’s a raucous group of teens that regularly makes use of the library in the small village one town over, and listening to them always makes me smile!). I can also borrow from a ‘library of things’ that includes everything from sewing machines to Cricuts to food dehydrators.

5) When I’m traveling, I visit libraries.

I don’t just love my own libraries; I love all libraries, especially libraries I have never been in before. When I’ll be spending time in a new place for a few days, often one of the first things I scout out is the library. I’m not trying to check out books as a tourist, but I may work, browse the stacks, flip through magazines, or just sit and soak it all in. This can be a great way to up the nostalgia factor on a visit to a former hometown, too: last summer I spent a few hours in my childhood library, and it was pretty magical.

6) I just…hang out there.

A couple of months ago I was writing at my village library, which was recently remodeled. As I gazed around the space, which now features a coffee bar, an adorable children’s area, a fireplace surrounded by comfy sofas, and desks and tables in all kinds of ergonomically-pleasing heights (with built-in power outlets!) I thought, why do I not do this every day?

I texted Eric and asked if he’d like to have a “date” at the library, and he showed up with a travel mug of tea for each of us and some snacks. We didn’t do much chatting (I still take the whole “whisper rule” thing perhaps more seriously than is necessary) but we hung out together, sipped our drinks in a pleasant space, and read. Now I’ve been making a point to think of the library as a place to just hang out and socialize, instead of only a place to work or check out books.

If you’re hoping to make your local library a bigger part of your life, I hope this post sparked some ideas for you! And I’d love to hear from you - what are your favorite ways to use the library, and/or what pain points make it harder to do?

two quick notes:

-When I logged on this morning to finish this post, I was delighted to see that my friend

Christine Koh

also wrote a great article about how (and why!) to support your local library. In the current political climate, so many essential institutions are threatened, and sometimes simply starting to visit and use the library again - especially if it’s been a while - can help you realize how important they really are. Really, can you imagine life without libraries?

-As I mentioned in my last post, asking your local library to carry my new book is a great way to support me, whether or not you plan to buy a copy!

That’s all for this post, friends! Why not go work, read, or just hang out at your local library today? -Meagan

1. Using multiple libraries does mean I have to be somewhat methodical about the way I check out, organize, read, and return books. I’ll cover some tips for keeping library books organized and returning them in a timely fashion in a future post!

2. I also know from experience that sometimes a lost book or way-past-the-due-date return can lead to truly prohibitive and embarrassing fines, so look for another post where I cover strategies that help me keep it all straight.